Apple Motor Inn

The room smelled as soon as we walked in. By the morning after our first night, we had itching, irritated skin, and marks that looked like bites. We told the staff the next day, but they blamed our dog. That seemed unlikely since we'd stayed at two other hotels beforehand, used the same car, and had no symptoms. They treated the room that day, and we had no more trouble afterward. I wouldn't recommend staying here if you're worried about being bitten and then dealing with the itching from the bites overnight.

It's cheap, which is the only good thing. Outside light shines through the paper-thin curtains all night, the shower was mouldy, and the paint was peeling. You can hear the people next door talking as clear as day. Pay the extra $30 a night and find somewhere half decent.

We had just one day to arrange somewhere for two nights over Christmas and New Year, while attending a funeral in Hawke’s Bay. Everything else was booked, so we took the studio at Apple Inn Motel in Hastings even though it wouldn't have been our first pick. The price was exceptionally low for that time of year, and the Wi-Fi was excellent and free. The woman at reception was warm, welcoming, and very helpful. Apple Inn is an underrated rough diamond and great value, especially when you need somewhere affordable and practical during a busy stretch. Don't let some of the low reviews put you off.

I booked a night online for my husband, my aunt visiting from America, and me. We collected the keys and found the room dirty and smelling awful. At reception, we told the two Indian women there that the place was dirty. We took our belongings and booked another apartment instead. We weren't refunded, and the women were very rude. Filthy place, I wouldn't recommend anyone stay there.